Born – 26th August 1955
Formal Education : From 1960 to 1982 @ Clifton prep, Durban High School, Natal Technikon, Natal University in following disciplines –
Dramatic Arts
Pure & Applied Science
Computer & Electronics Technology
Early Career
Performed in Community and Children’s theatre.
Worked in Computer Industry and related Academic Support.
1986 to present.
- Worked in NGO film field focussing on Cinema Verite and Process Documentary as a way of mediating against conflict.
- Now specializing in Cinema Verite Documentaries esp. in areas of Community, Arts and Science.
- Facilitation and mentoring of creative ‘early film’ projects by new independent film makers.
- Educational and academic involvement at tertiary and academic conference level. Guest lecturer at University of KwaZulu-Natal Film and Media Department: subject 'Documentary Filmmaking.'
RANGE of PROJECTS –
Recent Productions (pre 2008) :
1) 'Taken for Granted' - Part 3 of an Investigative Documentary into the exploitation of the opportunities that exist for unethical operators to fill the gap created by Government's lack of adequate Social Grant and National Identity services to remote communities. (cPC)
2) ‘After the Wave’ – A 26min documentary placing the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand in the context of the unique nature of the Thai people and their fascinating land. (PDCE)
3) 'Making The Grade' - South Africa's premiere Tea Estate struggles to maintain high quality against high production costs in an area where there is no other major employer. (cPC)
4) 'School's out..side' - When Thabo Mbeki stated that no more children should learn under trees, he had only a glimpse of the realities facing the Lelashe School Parents' body. (cPcDCE)
5) 'White Aids' - A SADEC award winning film hi-lighting two white discordant couples. This was made against the background of high denialism in the 'White' community despite figures to the contrary.
6) 'Who's on The Safe Side?' - The debate raged on about South Africa's Blood supply and donation strategies. Were Black and Gay people being discriminated against or was this scientifically justifiable? Once again the figures speak, but the the South African reality must be taken into consideration.
These two films directly affected Blood Bank Policy leading to South Africa being once again at the global forefront of this vital service.
SPECIALIST AREAS
1) Interface between Science, Community and medical practice - reflecting the rapidly increasing HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Viz: 2000-2007 >
1) Co-directed/Camera : 3 part International Documentary on the HIV/AIDS Dissident debate (Ida Jooste / Bedelia Basson / Andre Smith TV)
2) Co-directed/Camera : The HIV Vaccine Story – The Science and The Need. (Ida Jooste/ Andre Smith TV)
3) Cholera in KZN – In depth documentation of the war against Cholera and the individuals and NGOs fighting it. (Jooste/ Smith TV + Independent Commission)
4) Online media and production for year long AIDS awareness and fundraising Cycle the World project by Durban’s McCord Hospital.
5) Media production and Creative Photography Project facilitation for Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS support centre (McCord Hospital)
6) Media production for Umtapo SA, Antiracism and Peace training NGO.
7) Series of documentaries tracking the shift from ‘victim’ status to treatment access for South Africans living with HIV.
8) Social co-factors which influence and are influenced by the HIV/Pandemic (1) Lack of access to ID documents (2) Lack of proper access to school education (3) The Exploitation of Street Children and their glue addction by Glue Manufacturers (An Award Winning Investigation which resulted in legal action against the perpetrators)
ACADEMIC:
I co-presented a trilogy of films I made with Ms Jooste at the 2005 S.A.H.A.R.A. conference in Dakar, Senegal. The films dealt with the period of South African HIV history which was marked by conflict and the struggle for resolution in the ARV Treatment Access debate. Our work also challenges the stereotyping in the media of PWAs as sufferers rather than co-participants in the struggle for treatment access and human dignity.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENTS:
I am currently living and working in Nairobi, Kenya having accompanied my partner, Ms Jooste, who heads up INTERNEWS NETWORK, a US based NGO focussed on DEMOCRATIZATION though ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Their particular focus is to train Journalists in specialist HIV/Aids, Gender and D&G reporting.
Between May 2006 and Feb 2007 I filmed the updates and re-edited a 24 minute film, 'My Husband's Land' which was broadcast on South Africa's flagship investigative TV programme, SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT on Aids Day 2006 and at a special showing for USAID in America. It was selected for the Austin Women's Film Festival in Texas (26th to 29th April 2007).
'My Dead Husband's Land' was presented together with a panel discussion featuring the major role players at the 2007 S.A.H.A.R.A. conference in Kisumu, Kenya, on the 30th April 2007. I provided technical facilitation for this. During this time we showed the film to the community who had been affected and participated.
'Where The Tar Ends' (2007/08) was a longitudinal process documentary investigating the institutional and personal factors that influence the recruitment and retention of young South African doctors to rural health service. A group of CSOs (Community service officers) were followed over a year to produce an insightful film that has multi-uses beyond its original purpose: Training, initiation and issue raising with government.
CSW09 - I captured all the media and technically produced a daily blog live from the United Nations 53rd Commission of the Status of Women in New York (2-13th March 2009) for Internews Network. vide: http://internews-equalshare.blogspot.com/
'Peace of Mind' (2008/09) is work in progress. This film was motivated by a single question: How can Ubuntu exist if Xenophobia happened? Ubuntu is the African philosophy of togetherness and compassion. Xenophobia exploded in South Africa and Kenya in early 2008.
AWARDS
2000-2001 : Silver Award (National TV Association) – ‘Cycle the World’: Webmaster & Filmmaker for 1 yr AIDS orphan/HIV Support Centre funding project.
2003 : Regional and National Co-winner Vodacom TV Journalist of the Year. (for Documentary on Street Children and Glue Addiction)
2004 : Co-Winner Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Rolls Royce Award for Excellence in TV Journalism. (Jooste/Smith for Documentary on Street Children and Glue Addiction)
2006 : Co-Winner SADC TV Journalism Award. (Prod: Jooste/Smith for documentary on ‘White’ AIDS in South Africa)
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Contacts – Mobile +2837149607 / +254734336987 (Kenya)
e-mail: budgiesmith@gmail.com
websites: www.aidsfilms.netfirms.com
blog: budgie.co.nr
